In 2026, Trekor published a comprehensive Economic Impact Study for its Yellowhead Copper Project – a proposed open-pit copper mine located in British Columbia's Thompson-Nicola region. The Study highlights the Project’s forecast contributions to employment, economic output, and government revenues at the regional, provincial, and national levels.
Currently advancing in BC’s Environmental Assessment (EA) process, the Yellowhead Project has the potential to be one of the most significant copper producers in Canada – expanding the country’s copper production by 16% over 2025 levels while supporting thousands of BC jobs and contributing billions of dollars to national GDP.
Read on to learn more about the Yellowhead Copper Project and its potential economic impact.
Economic growth and job creation in British Columbia, and beyond
The Yellowhead Project has the potential to be a major economic driver for the Thompson-Nicola region, for British Columbia and Canada, delivering significant economic benefits over a 2-3 year construction phase and a 25-year mine life*. This includes:
- $46 billion in total economic output generated across Canada; and,
- $27.3 billion in contributions to Canada's GDP.
Approximately 70% of this economic activity will occur in the Thompson-Nicola region, contributing more than $32 billion in regional economic output and $20 billion in value-added GDP.
Locally, the Project is expected to support:
- 525 direct, full-time jobs during operations; and,
- 3,300+ total jobs, including direct, indirect, and induced employment
Yellowhead will offer secure, long-term and well-paid employment opportunities, with total compensation for direct workers averaging $153,000 per year – more than double the average income in the Thompson-Nicola region. The mine’s direct payroll will total $81 million per year during operations, and more than $2 billion over its 25-year operating life.
As host to all the Yellowhead Project’s direct operational jobs and a significant share of total employment, the Thompson- Nicola region stands to benefit from sustained economic activity and workforce development for decades to come.
A leading producer of critical minerals
Around the world, demand for copper continues to grow as industries invest in renewable energy systems, electrification, electric vehicles, defence technologies, and AI data centres. Recognized as a Critical Mineral by both the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, copper plays an increasingly important role in the energy transition and the technologies that support it.
To that end, the Yellowhead Project will be a major new source of copper in Canada, with average annual life-of-mine production of 178 million pounds of copper in concentrate over a 25 year mine life. This level of production is expected to make Yellowhead the country’s second-largest copper mine.
Read the full Yellowhead Project Economic Impact Study.
*All figures stated in 2025 dollars
